The Choise of Valentines Part 3

Arm'd otherwhile in thick congealed gla.s.se, When he, more glib, to h.e.l.l be lowe would pa.s.se.

Vpon a charriot of five wheeles he rydes, The which an arme strong driuer stedfast guides, 276

And often alters pace as wayes growe deepe, (For who, in pathes unknowne, one gate can keepe?) Sometimes he smoothlie slideth doune the hill; Another while, the stones his feete doe kill; 280

In clammie waies he treaddeth by and by, And plasheth and sprayeth all that be him nye.

So fares this iollie rider in his race, Plunging and sousing forward in lyke case, 284

He dasht, and spurted, and he plodded foule, G.o.d giue thee shame, thou blinde mischapen owle!

Fy-fy, for grief: a ladies chamberlaine, And canst not thou thy tatling tongue refraine? 288

I reade thee beardles blab, beware of stripes, And be aduised what thou vainelie pipes; Thou wilt be whipt with nettles for this geare If Cicelie shewe but of thy knauerie heere. 292

Saint Denis shield me from such female sprites!

Regarde not, Dames, what Cupids Poete writes: I pennd this storie onelie for my selfe, Who, giuing suck unto a childish Elfe, 296

And quitte discourag'd in my nurserie, Since all my store seemes to hir penurie.

I am not as was Hercules the stout, That to the seaventh iournie could hould out; 300

I want those hearbe's and rootes of Indian soile, That strengthen wearie members in their toile-- Druggs and Electuaries of new devise, Doe shunne my purse, that trembles at the price. 304

Sufficeth all I haue, I yeald hir hole Which, for a poore man, is a princelie dole, I paie our hostess scott and lott at moste, And looke as leane and lank as anie ghoste; 308

What can be added more to my renowne?

She lyeth breathlesse; I am taken doune; The waves doe swell, the tydes climbe or'e the banks; Judge, gentlemen! if I deserue not thanks? 312

And so, good night! unto you euer'ie one; For loe, our thread is spunne, our plaie is donne.

_Claudito iam vinos Priapa, sat prata biberunt_ [sic[j]].

Tho. Nash.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

_Thus[k] hath my penne presum'd to please my friend-- Oh mightst thou lykewise please Apollo's eye.

No, Honor brooke's no such impietie, Yett Ouids wanton Muse did not offend.

He is the fountaine whence my streames doe flowe-- Forgive me if I speake as I was taught, A lyke to women, utter all I knowe, As longing to unlade so bad a fraught.

My mynde once purg'd of such lasciuious witt, With purifide words and hallowed verse, Thy praises in large volumes shall rehearce, That better maie thy grauer view befitt.

Meanewhile yett rests, you smile at what I write; Or, for attempting, banish me your sight._

Thomas Nash.

FOOT- AND LINE NOTES

[k] Quite detached, on page 94 of the Rawl. MS. (the text commences on page 96), are a few lines ent.i.tled "The Epilogue," which are obviously part of the above, albeit more than usually imperfectly copied. Why so placed does not appear, especially as several blank pages immediately follow the conclusion of the Bodleian copy.

t.i.tle, _The Choosing of Valentines_, Nashes d.i.l.d.o.

2 _yong_, younge; _their iollie roguerie_, their brauery; _iollie_, Fr. _joli_, pretty, fine. _Bravery_, finery; _Cf_. Holinshed's _Chron.

of Eng., 55_--The ancient Britons painted their bodies "which they esteemed a great braverie."

3 _Rose earelie in the morne fore_, Rose in the morning before; _daie_, daye.

4 _soe trimme and gaie_, soe fresh and gaye.

5 _summer sheene_, somers shene.

6 _haidegaies on_, high degree in.

7 _alas at Easter, or_, allso at Ester and.

8 _Perambulate_, preambulate.

9 _to som_, into some; _abbordring_, bordering.

10 _taste the creame and cakes_, tast the cakes and creame.

11 _Or_, To.

12 _by Bachelrie of Maningtree_, by the bachelours of magnanimity.

"Manningtree, in Ess.e.x, formerly enjoyed the privilege of fairs, by the tenure of exhibiting a certain number of stage plays yearly. It appears also, from other intimations, that there were great festivities there, and much good eating, at Whitsun ales, and other times."--_Nares._

13 _Where to, the contrie franklins_, Whether our Country Franklins.

14 _Jhon and Jone com_, John and Joane come.

15 _Euen_, Even; _hallowes_, Hallowes; _Saint_, Sainct.

16 _doeth_, doth; _louers_, lovers; _those_, omitted in Rawlinson.

17 _ladies_, Ladyes.

18 _she_, shee; _valentine_, valentyne.

19 _woe, ala.s.s_, out, alas.

20 _an upper_, another.

21 _-haft and crab-tree face_, with his crabbed face.

22 _scar'd hir_, scard her; _the_, that.

23 _And now she was compel'd for Sanctuarie_, And she, poore wench, compeld for Sanctuary.